Wolves Win Nail-Biter Against Rampage
ROSEMONT, Ill. ---Jordan Schroeder's goal with 2:58 to go lifted the Chicago Wolves to a riveting 6-5 victory on Saturday night at Allstate Arena.
Zack Kassian, Michael Davies, Kevin Connauton, Bill Sweatt and Andrew Gordon also scored for the Wolves (5-2-0-0), who snapped a two-game losing streak. Schroeder's game-winner, set up by Davies and Sweatt, stopped a San Antonio comeback as the Rampage delivered three unanswered power-play goals in the third period.
"Once we got 5-on-5, our offensive guys went out and made some plays," said Wolves head coach Scott Arniel. "I mean, that last goal was a great tic-tac-toe play."
Kassian opened scoring on Breast Cancer Awareness Night just 38 seconds into the game. Nathan Longpre claimed the puck in the neutral zone and flipped it ahead to Kassian, who rolled in and fired a wrist shot from the left circle that whizzed over Jacob Markstrom's right shoulder.
Davies' first goal of the season made it 2-0 at 6:45 of the first period when his wrister from the goal line deflected off Markstrom and trickled across the line.
The Wolves surrendered their first first-period goal of the season at 17:55 when Jared Gomes' backhander from just beyond the crease squeezed in the corner of the net. Former Wolves forward Andre Deveaux made it 2-2 early in the second period with a power-play goal.
The Wolves regained control when Connauton, Sweatt and Gordon produced goals in a four-minute stretch. Gordon's short-handed tally with seven seconds left gave the Wolves a 5-2 lead after 40 minutes.
Chicago's three-goal lead didn't hold up long as San Antonio (2-3-0-1) ripped off three power-play goals in the opening 7:08 of the third. Drew Shore, Jean-Francois and Tyson Strachan delivered for the Rampage, who had four power-play goals for the night.
Wolves goaltender Eddie Lack (4-1-0) posted 24 saves in the win. Markstrom (1-2-0) made 19 saves.
The Wolves return to the Allstate Arena ice at 4 p.m. Sunday with a game against Midwest Division rival Grand Rapids.
